Winter lay up

Quick question?
Winter screen on or off when at home during winter?

I've always kept ours on all year round. It's the Taylormade longline one so it covers the scuttle, preventing rain getting in and leaves etc accumulating. 

Ours has lasted for years, even through Scottish winters. The only issue is it sometimes accumulates green algae, especially around the seams but I spray it now and again with the same stuff I use to prevent the roof going green (Wet'n'Forget or similar).

If I know we're going to be using the van, even for a day trip, I put the small Delonghi oil filled radiator on beforehand and it warms up in no time with the cab windows and screen insulated, whereas otherwise it stays very chilly.

On, all year except when driving!

Without hesitation, on.
Al.
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Off, but then our van is our second vehicle so used frequently

Off, as per the recommendation from Taylormade, but we live in Cornwall and I might feel differently if we lived in the north.

Thanks all, sound advice as always! It is going on, I know they are expensive but hey. I hear of screens ten years Plus? At that they're good value

The winter screen is also something of a minor theft deterrent. 
Al.

Off for me and haven't had any problems.  At the end of a trip ours is left in the sun or conservatory to dry and is then returned to its bag to go back in the van so we always start a trip with a clean and dry winter screen (Tailormade).  If we leave home when it's below zero I might plug in a fan heater in the cab for 10 mins or so to clear ice/condensation off the inside of the windscreen as I have also done with my car sometimes.  Once we start driving the cab soon warms up and we can discard our coats.

One of the main reasons for me is that it covers the below windscreen vents, which otherwise fill with leaves and or risk rain in engine bay of 20 yr old van

IanH wrote:One of the main reasons for me is that it covers the below windscreen vents, which otherwise fill with leaves and or risk rain in engine bay of 20 yr old van

That's a good point but we went for the shorter screen cover as it was slightly cheaper, less bulky and I understand easier to fit.  I clean the scuttle when I clean the rest of the van which I do quite regularly.  I understand with earlier Boxers the scuttle's rain water drains become blocked but we haven't had that problem.  The longer screen stops draughts entering the cab but that's a bit of a mixed blessing as ventilation is generally good and if you want to stop it you can by turning the heater setting to recirculate.

Not got one but would fit it if I did have. Another benefit is prevention of leaves etc blocking drainage at bottom of windscreen. I've fitted a net on bungies to stop this. Was wondering what I could use as a cheap alternative to insulate the windscreen?
I have also removed the wiper blades for winter. Only takes a few seconds.

I bought my Silverscreen second hand on ebay for around £35. It was in good nick, but obviously used. Fast forward ten years and maybe four or five months of continuous use per year and it's still going strong. Cleans up great after a hose and brush off every spring.
Al.

bikeralw wrote:I bought my Silverscreen second hand on ebay for around £35. It was in good nick, but obviously used. Fast forward ten years and maybe four or five months of continuous use per year and it's still going strong. Cleans up great after a hose and brush off every spring.
Al.

  Will look for one on eBay etc